I recently had a long conversation with an aspiring freelance writer. Although we talked about many aspects of the industry, the conversation kept coming back to whether or not making “real†freelance writing income was a realistic goal. Even though I make a solid living this way, some people still have a hard time believing that they can join me in doing so.
In my opinion, as long as you have above average writing skills and the will to succeed, you can make it to the top as a freelance writer. I never tell people that it will be easy or that they will earn tens of thousands of dollars in their first year, but it is more than possible.
Time after time I hear of aspiring freelance writers who quit chasing their dream for the same reason: too many people told them that it was a bad idea, so they simply put this career path “on hold.†Of course, they never come back to it, and end up working for somebody else the rest of their life. It is very important that you do not fall into this trap. If you do, it is safe to say that a career in freelance writing is going to elude you. Remember, there are always going to be people telling you that working for yourself is a bad idea. They will tell you everything that is wrong with being a freelance writer, but nothing from the positive side.
To build a successful freelance writing career, it is important to set small goals while closely tracking your progress. For instance, your month one goal may be to earn $100. After you reach this mark, set another reasonable goal and move on from there. Taking small steps and hitting your goals along the way will make the process simpler.
In short, if you want to be a freelance writer you need two things: good writing skills and the ability to stay dedicated to your career no matter what others are saying. With these points in mind, begin setting goals and working towards achieving success.
Generally speaking, if you can increase your freelance writing workload you can also increase your income. In other words, more work equals more money. This is not always the case, as I have mentioned before, but it is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind.
Consider these three tips for increasing your freelance writing workload.
1. A large number of my freelance writing jobs come from current clients passing my name along to others. Make sure that you are the type of writer that people will want to refer. Getting jobs this way is a huge benefit because you do not have to spend time on marketing. Instead, the interested party comes to you.
2. Put together a resume and samples that prospective clients will want to see. Too many freelance writers make the mistake of including their favorite pieces in their portfolio, as opposed to those that will help them to garner new projects. Remember, your freelance writing portfolio will change from time to time. Once you find samples that seem to be working, stick with them for a while. Soon enough you will have confidence in your resume and portfolio.
3. Simply put, be good at what you do. This holds true no matter what type of freelancer you are. If you are not churning out good work, you are not going to succeed. Sure, you may trick a few people with sub-par work, but sooner or later you are going to hit a wall and your career will come to a grinding halt. Additionally, bad work never turns into referrals. If you are going to take the time to become a freelance writer, you might as well take the time to produce quality content.Â
These are three simple tips to keep in mind if you are interested in increasing your freelance writing workload. When you do more work, there is a good chance that you will see a positive increase in your monthly income.Â
How much money does it take to start a freelance writing career? This is a common question that aspiring writers ask others as well as themselves. As you probably know, freelance writing is a good career to get into if you do not want to deal with large up front costs, as well as recurring expenses. When it comes down to it, starting a freelance writing career is one of the most cost efficient for anybody who is interested in working for themselves.
So what are the costs involved with starting a freelance writing career? It is difficult to list every expense because some people already have the basic items. With that being said, the list below is compiled based on somebody starting with nothing.
1. The number one thing on your list should be a reliable computer; you can buy either a desktop or a laptop. While computers used to be expensive, in today’s day and age you can find a good unit for $300 or so. Remember, you do not need anything special. The three things that you do need are: a good word processing program such as Microsoft Word, a reliable machine, and one that will allow you to connect to the internet. Additionally, consider buying a computer from a manufacturer that is tossing in a free printer. Believe it or not, there are plenty of these deals to be had at the major electronic stores.Â
2. Speaking of the internet, this is an expense that a freelance writer cannot do without. Gone are the days when you could complete assignments and mail or fax them to clients. While I do send projects in the mail from time to time, this has become more or less obsolete in the freelance writing world. You need to pay for internet access, and if you want the best of the best, splurge for cable instead of dial up.
3. You will need miscellaneous office items. This includes everything from stamps to pens to notepads. You do not need a lot of office supplies, and what you do buy should last you for quite a long time.
As you can see, it is quite cheap to start a freelance writing career. For approximately $400 you can get set up with everything you need. And as you know, if you already have a computer, your biggest expense is behind you!
